Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
The entry into force of the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC) marks more than a technical milestone for the Bay of Bengal region. It signals a broader strategic effort by member states to strengthen regional connectivity, reduce logistical barriers and reposition the Bay of Bengal as a key economic and maritime corridor in the Indo-Pacific.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Secretariat in Dhaka announced on Saturday that the agreement officially entered into force after Myanmar deposited its instrument of ratification on 13 May, becoming the fourth member state to complete the process after Bhutan, India and Thailand.
Signed during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in April 2025, the AMTC is designed to create a common framework for maritime transport cooperation among BIMSTEC countries. The agreement aims to facilitate smoother movement of goods and services, harmonize operational procedures and improve regional maritime connectivity across the Bay of Bengal.
Analysts say the development carries significant geopolitical and economic implications at a time when South and Southeast Asian countries are increasingly seeking alternative regional platforms to deepen connectivity and trade integration.
For BIMSTEC, the maritime agreement represents a practical step toward turning long-discussed connectivity ambitions into operational mechanisms. While regional organizations in South Asia have often struggled with slow implementation, the activation of the AMTC demonstrates that BIMSTEC is gradually shifting from dialogue-oriented cooperation toward infrastructure and transport-based integration.
Experts believe the AMTC could help reduce transportation costs, improve port connectivity and encourage intra-regional trade, which remains relatively low among BIMSTEC countries despite geographic proximity and growing economies.
India’s role in pushing the maritime agenda has also drawn attention. New Delhi has increasingly prioritized BIMSTEC as part of its “Neighborhood First” and Indo-Pacific strategies, especially as regional cooperation under SAARC remains largely inactive. The planned establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport in India reflects that broader strategic direction.
For Bangladesh, which hosts the BIMSTEC Secretariat, the agreement aligns with Dhaka’s ambition to position itself as a regional connectivity hub linking South and Southeast Asia. Enhanced maritime cooperation could create new opportunities for Bangladeshi ports, logistics operators and export-oriented industries.
However, analysts caution that the agreement’s long-term success will depend on implementation capacity, infrastructure investment and political coordination among member states. Differences in port standards, customs systems and maritime regulations remain major challenges across the region.
Still, the activation of the AMTC is being viewed as an important confidence-building step for BIMSTEC. Beyond maritime transport itself, the agreement reflects a growing recognition among member states that connectivity, trade facilitation and regional integration are becoming central to economic resilience and geopolitical relevance in the Bay of Bengal region.
